Leeds Festival has been hit hard by Storm Lilian, forcing organizers to halt performances and issue safety warnings to campers. The storm, which brought gusts of up to 60mph, has caused significant disruption to the festival site at Bramham Park.
On Friday morning, a yellow wind warning was in place, and festival organizers announced that performances on the BBC Radio 1 stage and the Aux stage would be cancelled for the day due to the severe weather. A spokesperson for the festival confirmed, “We definitely won’t be opening the arena at 11am, but we are targeting as soon as possible after that and we will update you further. However, we have lost the BBC Radio 1 stage and Aux stage today, and there will be no performances on it.
Despite the cancellations, organizers remained optimistic about the rest of the weekend. We remain hopeful that everything else will continue as planned and that we will still have an amazing weekend,” the spokesperson added.
Videos circulating on social media showed tents being lifted into the air and fences blown across the site as the storm took hold. In response, festivalgoers were urged to prioritize safety. Earlier in the morning, organizers advised those in cars to stay put until the winds eased, and for those who had yet to arrive, they suggested delaying their arrival. “Your safety is our number one priority. Remember to look out for each other,” the message read.
The Met Office has forecast that Storm Lilian will begin to ease by the afternoon, bringing some relief to the 90,000 people expected to attend the festival over the bank holiday weekend.
Road closures around Bramham Park will remain in effect throughout the festival, and drivers are being warned to expect heavy congestion. Commuters have also been advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to the disruption.
As festival organizers continue to monitor the weather, updates will be provided to attendees to ensure their safety and enjoyment for the rest of the weekend.
